In 1964, Jose Sarria, after years as the undisputed queen of San Francisco, declared himself "Empress José I, The Widow Norton", and founded the Imperial Court System, which grew to become an international association of charitable organizations. Today, as the International Court System, it has over 65 chapters in the United States, Canada and Mexico, making them the second largest GLBT organization in the world. The Seattle chapter is the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle and the Olympic and Rainier Empire. The pageant is a drag show which leads to the crowning of the new King and Queen of the Seas, and raises money for local charities.